"Faye!" I turned around to face Thy when he called me. Bigla na lang may panyo na napunta sa mukha ko. Kinuha ko 'yon at tinignan nang masama si Thy. Tumawa siya. This guy!

Andito kami ngayon sa studio, they're preparing for another gig. Months passed and I think the situation changed. Is it because of the fashion show gig? That I need to be with Chryszyler that time?

These past months I focused myself to helping Aling Melinda at the karinderya, having fun with Universe and help them with their gigs and all.

Hindi na rin naman kami nagkikita ni Chryszyler simula no'ng pumunta sila ng parents niya. We didn't really talk that much. Why would we? As far as I know, he doesn't remember me.

"Faye, tulala ka na naman!" sabi ni Jeruza. "Hayaan mo 'yon, basta mahal ka namin!" dugtong pa niya.

Natawa ako at inakbayan si Jeruza. Katatapos lang nila mag practice. Balak nila kumain sa labas o baka sa karinderya ulit. That didn't change, sa karinderya pa rin ni Aling Melinda gusto nila kumain.

"Recruit na tayo new members!" Jeruza excitedly said. "May new judge na tayo, Faye is here!"

Natawa ako. I'm not really shy with them anymore. Dati, kapag may gan'to, I would get shy and decline. Ngayon, tinatawanan ko na lang at hinahayaan. It can help me grow as a person, why do I would even decline it?

All of them agreed. I don't really remember them doing this, kaya nangangapa ako kung ano dapat gawin at sabihin.

"Lagay na lang tayo posters or post tayo online."

"Let's go with both."

Ayon ang ginawa namin buong hapon. Print some posters, entertain some people who have questions about the recruitment.

Balak nila kumuha ng isa o dalawa lang. I don't really known why. Baka nga kuntento na sila na onti lang. They're all talented and shining.

The audition and recruitment is happening tomorrow at 12 PM. I'm excited!

"Paunahan makahanap ng naka neon shirt sa crowd mamaya!" Here we go again. Hindi ko alam kung bakit at paano nagsimula pustahan nila na gan'to. Nalulugi kami ni Jeruza kase isa kami sa crowd, sila nasa stage, kitang kita lahat.

"Stop with your pustahan. Hindi niyo pa nga alam kakantahin niyo mamaya," saway sakanila ni Leigh. May gig na naman kase ulit sila mamaya.

I stucked my tongue out to mock Thy. Siya kase ang nananalo lagi sa pustahan at siya rin dapat ang mas focus sa kanta dahil siya ang vocalist.

"'Wag na lang tayo kumanta, mag gitara at drums na lang buong gig," natatawang sabi ni Thy.

We just shooked our heads. I made a face to mock him more. His eyes squinted and looked at Leigh then grinned.

"Pakantahin natin si Faye!" Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Thy. This guy, really! Binatukan ko agad siya, sa ulo sana kaso batok lang niya ang abot ko.

"Gusto mo mawalan ng boses?" I threatened him. Imbes matakot, natawa siya. Jeez. "Jeruza, sapakin mo nga 'to!"

"Sasapakin ko si Drake kapag sinapak mo 'ko!"

"Can you?" tanong ni Drake kay Thy. Tumawa kaming lahat. Thy just scoffed but didn't answer. Takot din.

"Ingay niyo. Just order." Tumahimik na kaming lahat at tinignan kung ano ang luto ni Aling Melinda.

Kinamusta na rin namin si Aling Melinda. Mang Bert is helping her kaya makakanood din ako ng gig mamaya.

Pagtapos namin kumain do'n, bumalik kami sa studio para magpractice ulit. Mamayang 5 PM ang gig nila. I wonder what am I really doing this time... if it didn't change...

"Dad is going to visit later," Leigh said that made the boys frown. Natawa si Leigh kaya natawa rin ako. Last time, they really had a hard time.

"Bakit ka tumatawa Faye? Leigh's dad is cruel!" reklamo ni Thy.

Natawa ako. "Yeah, nasabi niyo n--" I stopped midway when I realized that I really haven't met Leigh's dad in their consciousness. "Nasabi na ni Jeruza sa akin..."

I bit my lower lip. Save me, Jeruza...

Kumunot ang noo ni Jeruza. "Did I say that? Baka nga nasabi ko na. I don't remember." Natawa siya. I sighed.

Katulad nga ng sinabi ni Leigh, dumating si Mr. Duque. I realized that why does her father surname is Duque but Leigh's surname is Amelia? Maybe it's just what his dad display name or something?

They greeted him. He looked at me from head-to-foot. I smiled and offer my hand.

"New recruit?" he asked... again. He shook my hand.

"New friend," Leigh said. Nginitian ko si Mr. Duque and he smiled back. Buti na lang at nasanay na ako. He's really intimidating. Hindi na talaga ako magtataka kung sino tatay ni Leigh.

Mr. Duque started to teach them. As I expected, he's cruel and strict. Gusto ko tumawa tuwing napapagalitan sila pero naawa rin ako. They will get through this.

Natapos na rin ang strict and cruel lesson with Mr. Duque. Binigyan ko sila ng tubig. Umalis din agad si Mr. Duque.

------------

Tomorrow came and I was really excited! Sa sobrang excited ko, hindi ko na ginawa activities na dapat ko gawin at pumunta na sa Universe's world.

I was the one who's opening the karinderya. Bukod sa maaga ako nakakarating, ito lang 'yong lugar kung saan p'wede ako mag-stay.

Aling Melinda and Mang Bert arrived. Nagluto na si Aling Melinda at tinulungan namin siya ni Mang Bert mag-asikaso.

Tinulungan ko lang si Aling Melinda ro'n hangga't sa dumating na ang Universe. Ang usapan kase, susunduin nila ako. Dahil nga magkakasama sila sa iisang bahay, ako lang ang nahihiwalay.

"Saan pala venue?" I asked. Hindi ako familiar sa lugar na nakalagay sa poster.

"Dad rented a venue. Malapit sa workplace niya para raw makahabol siya," Leigh said.

We drove there and set up everything. We didn't talk that much because we're busy setting up. 30 minutes before the audition, we finally finished setting up.

Magulo kase ang venue pagkarating namin. Wala sa tamang ayos ang table and chairs. Makalat. Kulob pa. Pagod na pagod kami maglinis. Leigh want to complain to the owner. Malaki raw ang binayad nila pero hindi sulit. Mr. Duque acted fast kaya nakakuha sila ng discount.

They were so many people. We need to cut off. We can only have 60 people.

The audition started immediately. Ang ibang tao ay magagaling kaso biglang sasablay. Universe wasn't that harsh. Akala ko kapag nagkamali, paaalisin na nila, pero pinagbibigyan nila at pinapaulit. I didn't talk much, wala naman akong alam sa gan'to.

Patapos na namin ang audition. Napatingin ako sa papel ni Jeruza dahil katabi ko siya sa upuan. May mga grades, compliments, and criticisms siya about sa isang tao. Wala akong alam kaya tumingin na lang din ako ulit sa harap. Walang nakalagay if may napili na ba siya o meron na.

Kung ano ano na lang sinusulat at dinadrawing ko sa papel ko. I didn't catch up. Okay lang naman siguro sakanila 'yon.

"Chryszyler Dizon?" I heard Thy asked. Napatingin ako sa harap sa gulat. Nanlaki ang mata ko at napayuko na naman. He's here! He's auditioning! Jeez. Faye, calm down.

Naramdaman kong tumingin sa akin si Thy at Jeruza. Hindi ko na sila tinignan and I pretended to do something else. I was more shocked when he started singing!

I miss that voice. I miss him singing. I can't help myself but to look at him na agad kong pinagsisihan dahil nagtama agad ang mga mata namin.

Memories of us together flashed again. We were so happy back then. We made it work. We were contented of what we have. We only want ourselves to be together... what went wrong? Where did it go wrong? Is it me? Is it you? Is it... us? Do we even have an us?

"Faye," narinig kong bulong ni Jeruza. I looked at her, confuse. Her worried eyes met mine. "Why are you crying?"

Napalunok ako at hinawakan ang basang pisngi ko. Why am I crying? Why the heck am I crying?! Pinunasan ko 'yon at hindi na ulit humarap sakaniya.

Natapos ang audition at mas dumoble ang pagkatahimik ko. I blowed my cheeks to stop myself from overthinking.

The Universe is discussing their picks and who they want to recruit. I was just listening to them.

They were debating and arguing, but not in an angry way. They already decided. I know I need to see this coming. I already know who will they pick. I just need to prepare myself. It's either going to be chaotic or butterflies.

"Chryszyler Dizon, welcome to Universe," they greeted him, the new recruit.

He shook with us one by one. I blowed my cheeks when I shook his hand, afraid to let it go. Ako na ang unang bumitaw pero hinigpitan niya 'yon. I looked at him, confused.

He pursed his lips before letting go. Hindi ko siya tinigilan sa pagtingin. I'm so confused! Why are you giving me hope, but you're going to take it back immediately? Why the heck are you giving me hope? I hate you. I hate you for playing with my feelings.